Summer Preview: Stunning Art Installations in NYC

Crowded though it may be, it’s in summer that New York City truly comes to life. No matter which borough you’re in, no matter what you’re in the mood for, you’ll find an event to fit the bill. And, more importantly, you’ll likely be able to do it for free. Here, a preview of stunning upcoming art installations that won’t cost you much (if anything at all):

Hy-Fi at MoMA PS1June 2014
Every year, MoMA PS1 unveils a tech-savvy, totally-out-there installation that brings water, shade, and coolness to its courtyard in Long Island City. This year’s project, dubbed Hy-Fi, creatively harnesses the powers of organic materials like mushroom roots and cornstalks to regulate temperature. Two towers draw in cool air at the bottom – visitors can actually enter and lounge within – and push hot air out from the top.

The Roof Garden Commission: Dan Graham at the Metropolitan MuseumApril 29 – November 2
Something shiny this way comes. American artist Dan Graham will be creating a gleaming glass pavilion at everyone’s favorite summer cocktail spot: the Met Museum’s rooftop garden. Like many of his other masterpieces, this structure will be part-transparent and part-reflective, with curving clear and two-way mirrored panels. We’re still eagerly awaiting photos, but we can only imagine how this will enhance the rooftop’s already awe-inspiring views. (P.S. Did you know museum entry is pay-as-you-wish?)

Folly at Madison Square Park May 1 – September 7This summer, step into a magical world of good-versus-evil at Madison Square Park, where three towering sculptures by Rachel Feinstein will transform the urban lawns into an aluminum stage for fairytales. These fantastical structures, inspired by European “follies” from the eighteenth and nineteenth century, reach a sweeping 26 feet and take the form of a castle-like facade, a full-mast ship, and a cliff-top dwelling.

Queen Mother of Reality at Socrates Sculpture Park May 11 – August 3Nothing like a massive 50-foot-long, 18-foot-high sculpture along the East River to change your perception of reality. As part of the city’s celebrated Frieze Art Fair, this mixed media installation by Paweł Althamer serves to call attention to the plight of NYC’s displaced homeless. It also celebrates the work of “Queen Mother” Dr. Delois Blakely, Harlem’s community mayor, who’s dedicated herself to the cause for nearly a decade.

Note: We’re expecting more artsy news from Governors Island, the High Line, and more for the summer and will update this story as we go along. Stay tuned!